apostate

noun

apos·​tate ə-ˈpä-ˌstāt 

-stət

: one who commits apostasy

apostate adjective

Synonyms

• deserter
• traitor
• renegade
• rebel
• insurgent
• defector

Examples of apostate in a Sentence

an apostate from communism, he later became one of its harshest critics

became an apostate to liberalism after he had gotten wealthy

Recent Examples on the Web

In Iran, Baha’is are considered to be apostates and face persecution, marked by extreme violence including extrajudicial killings, torture, and arbitrary detention. —Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025

On the walls, someone had spray painted graffiti calling Alawites dogs and apostates. —Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2025

Image Stone, 60, is that increasingly familiar figure in conservative life: an apostate from the mainstream, in recovery from her earlier liberalism. —Marc Tracy, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2025

The Islamic State group follows a hard-line version of Sunni Islam and considers Shiite Muslims to be apostates. —Warren P. Strobel, arkansasonline.com, 26 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English apostata, apostate, in part continuing Old English apostata (weak noun), in part borrowed from Anglo-French apostate, apostata, both borrowed from Late Latin apostata "rebel against God, fallen Christian, heretic," borrowed from Late Greek apostátēs "rebel against God, apostate," going back to Greek, "defector, rebel," from aposta-, variant stem of aphístamai, aphístasthai "to stand away from, keep aloof from, revolt" + -tēs, agent suffix — more at apostasy

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

apostate

noun

apos·​tate ə-ˈpäs-ˌtāt 

-tət

: one who commits apostasy

apostate adjective